Godzilla (1954)

Baptized in the fire of an H-bomb, Godzilla is the grandaddy of all giant movie monsters. Given how etched the creature has become in our collective pop consciousness, it was amazing to see the original film, restored and uncut, for the first time. Brought to life with revolutionary special effects that still hold up almost sixty years later, Godzilla is more than just disaster porn (though there is plenty of glorious destruction). It is a rallying cry against nuclear weapons, total warfare, and the power of the corrupt. The final sequence where the heroes confront Godzilla under the sea is beautiful in its almost silent-film like simplicity, a testament to the magic powers of the cinema. Godzilla's destruction is ultimately a tragic victory. Director Ishiro Honda said, "Monsters are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, they are not evil by choice; that is their tragedy." Takashi Shimura's scientist is the only one who takes a stand against destroying the monster, and instead insists it must be treated as a fellow living creature to be learned from. It is amazing what one gleans from giant monster movies.